Wildfire Consulting — Newfoundland & Labrador
Protecting people and places from wildland fire risk.
FitForFire helps municipalities and communities across Newfoundland and Labrador understand their wildland fire risk and take meaningful action. We provide FireSmart-aligned risk and exposure assessments, lead multidisciplinary project teams that include specialized GIS professionals for wildland fire exposure modelling and mapping, and develop Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans designed to support practical, long-term implementation.
- 17Years of wildland fire management experience
- 1stCommunity Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) in Newfoundland & Labrador
Services
What FitForFire does
End-to-end wildfire consulting, from first assessment to a plan you can act on.
Community Wildfire Resiliency Planning
End-to-end CWRPs that translate risk findings into SMART objectives and implementation-ready mitigation strategies and recommendations for municipalities.
Wildland Fire Risk & WUI Assessments
Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) hazards and community vulnerabilities through site inspections, stakeholder engagement, integrating technical data to support resilience planning.
FireSmart Planning & Program Delivery
FireSmart Canada-aligned planning, education, and community outreach for municipalities and community organizations.
GIS Supported Risk Analysis & Mapping
Technical GIS analysis and mapping provided through collaborative project teams, integrating provincial exposure modelling with local fuels, topography, infrastructure, and community data to support informed decision-making.
Municipal Emergency Preparedness
FitForFire supports emergency and land-use planning focused on water supply, road access, evacuation routes, and response capability. FitForFire works closely with local fire departments, municipalities, Local Service Districts and the Provincial Emergency Services Division to coordinate preparedness efforts that align with existing municipal emergency plans.
Stakeholder Engagement & Public Education
Consultation with municipal staff, fire services, LSDs, and residents to ensure local knowledge shapes practical, achievable plans.
Why FitForFire
Experience behind every plan
- Nearly two decades of experience on wildland fire incidents as a Logistics Section Chief, supporting all sections of the Incident Management Teams (IMT).
- Former Provincial FireSmart Liaison for Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Certified FireSmart Canada Program Instructor.
- ICS Canada Certified Instructor.
- Project Lead for the first FireSmart Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) pilot project in Newfoundland and Labrador supported by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).
- Trusted by municipalities, government agencies, and community partners.
Experience
A track record across the wildland fire landscape
Nearly two decades of operational, planning, and consulting experience in wildland fire management, supported by national and international wildland fire assignments, and leadership in community wildfire resilience initiatives throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
CIFFC Pilot Project
Corner Brook Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan
A CIFFC-supported initiative establishing the provincial framework for wildland fire risk assessment and resiliency planning, carrying risk findings through to implementation-ready mitigation strategies.
Community Outreach
FireSmart education across Newfoundland and Labrador
Education and outreach sessions for towns and community groups, focused on Wildland-Urban Interface risk awareness.
Operational Response
Incident command & multi-agency logistics
Nearly two decades of wildland fire experience, including extensive training and practical application of the Incident Command System (ICS), operational planning, logistics, and the preparation of new wildland fire crewmembers. As a qualified Logistics Section Chief on Incident Management Teams (IMTs), I have responded to 16 wildland fire deployments at the provincial, national, and international levels. In these roles, I support all sections of the Incident Management Team by coordinating incident personnel, equipment, facilities, communications, transportation, and other logistical functions necessary to achieve incident objectives safely and effectively.
Municipal Planning
Wildland fire resiliency & emergency preparedness
Identifying wildland fire risk and developing practical mitigation strategies covering water supply, road access, evacuation routes, and response capability.
About
Led by Joe Russell, Principal Consultant
FitForFire is a Newfoundland and Labrador-based wildfire consulting company specializing in wildland fire risk reduction, FireSmart planning, Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) assessments, Local Service Districts (LSD) and Community Wildfire Resiliency Planning (CWRP) for municipalities, government agencies, and community organizations.
Full biography
Joe Russell's work starts on the ground: site inspections, and direct consultation with municipal staff, fire services, local service districts, and residents. The aim is for local knowledge to shape the plan from the outset, rather than be layered onto it at the end.
From there he leads multidisciplinary project teams — including specialized GIS professionals for wildland fire exposure modelling and mapping — and translates the technical findings into SMART objectives and implementation-ready mitigation a community can realistically act on over the long term.
Contact
Let's talk about your wildland fire risk
Reach out to discuss an assessment, a plan, or a specific concern. Every enquiry gets a direct response.